NGF Sets Date To Implement Financial Autonomy For Judiciary

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said it will ensure the
implementation of financial autonomy for state legislative and
judiciary institutions by May 2021.

Chairman of the NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi gave the assurance after a
meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim
Gambari at the Statehouse.

He maintained that the Governors forum has never been opposed to
the issue of financial autonomy and that the governors, the
speakers, and judges are on the same page.

He further disclosed that upon emerging from a meeting with the
Solicitor-General of the Federation, the representatives of the
judiciary, the representatives of the Conference of Speakers, and
House of Representatives today, an agreement has been reached, thus
reiterating that Nigerians can expect implementation of the
agreement no later than May.

The NGF’s comments regarding the matter come few hours after
members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) staged a peaceful
march at the National Assembly in solidarity with judiciary workers
who are protesting in favour of financial autonomy in the
country.

The lawyers who had earlier converged at the Court of Appeal
gate before proceeding to the Parliament’s complex in their numbers
were stopped from entering the Assembly by security operatives.

Leadership of the NBA had earlier on Friday directed its branch
chairmen nationwide to lead “visits” to government houses in their
states over the 36 governors’ alleged unwillingness to implement
judiciary’s financial autonomy.

A statement by the president of the association, Olumide Akpata,
directed the branch chairmen to lead the “visits”, which are more
like peaceful protests, on Monday, and on all other subsequent
Mondays until the demand for the judiciary’s financial autonomy is
met.

It urged the branch leaders “to effectively mobilise their
members” for the “visit to the governors at the state government
houses” to press home the demand.

JUSUN since April 6, 2021, left the courts in Nigeria under lock
and key because of the non-implementation of financial autonomy for
the judiciary as the third arm of government. They commenced a
nationwide strike today, April 19, 2021.

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said it will ensure the
implementation of financial autonomy for state legislative and
judiciary institutions by May 2021.

Chairman of the NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi gave the assurance after a
meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim
Gambari at the Statehouse.

He maintained that the Governors forum has never been opposed to
the issue of financial autonomy and that the governors, the
speakers, and judges are on the same page.

He further disclosed that upon emerging from a meeting with the
Solicitor-General of the Federation, the representatives of the
judiciary, the representatives of the Conference of Speakers, and
House of Representatives today, an agreement has been reached, thus
reiterating that Nigerians can expect implementation of the
agreement no later than May.

The NGF’s comments regarding the matter come few hours after
members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) staged a peaceful
march at the National Assembly in solidarity with judiciary workers
who are protesting in favour of financial autonomy in the
country.

The lawyers who had earlier converged at the Court of Appeal
gate before proceeding to the Parliament’s complex in their numbers
were stopped from entering the Assembly by security operatives.

Leadership of the NBA had earlier on Friday directed its branch
chairmen nationwide to lead “visits” to government houses in their
states over the 36 governors’ alleged unwillingness to implement
judiciary’s financial autonomy.

A statement by the president of the association, Olumide Akpata,
directed the branch chairmen to lead the “visits”, which are more
like peaceful protests, on Monday, and on all other subsequent
Mondays until the demand for the judiciary’s financial autonomy is
met.

It urged the branch leaders “to effectively mobilise their
members” for the “visit to the governors at the state government
houses” to press home the demand.

JUSUN since April 6, 2021, left the courts in Nigeria under lock
and key because of the non-implementation of financial autonomy for
the judiciary as the third arm of government. They commenced a
nationwide strike today, April 19, 2021.